|
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
|
CONTACT: Tim Spreitzer Phone: 215-549-0220 Cell: 215-514-0170 CONTACT: Johnna A. Pro Cell: 717-418-3749 Email: japro@pahouse.net |
State Rep. Dwight Evans |
|
|
|
|
|
|
New poll shows southeast suburbanites want state action to end crime and handgun violence
Urban/suburban lawmakers join forces for a safe and secure Pennsylvania
PHILADELPHIA, September 5th – Suburban Philadelphia residents, the majority of whom identify themselves as Republican, overwhelmingly support both tougher laws and prevention programs as a means to end the wave of crime associated with handgun violence across the Commonwealth.
In a poll released today by state Representative Dwight Evans (D-Phila.), 88 percent of the respondents characterized crime and handgun violence as a serious or very serious problem in Pennsylvania. Those questioned during the poll conducted last week by Lake Research Partners, believe state lawmakers should not bow to the pressure of special interests and instead:
- limit the sale of handguns to one per month and pass other reasonable gun legislation;
- ban military style assault weapons statewide;
- invest in education and economic opportunities for young people;
- provide more funding to police departments to hire officers and buy equipment;
- require gun owners to report lost or stolen weapons within 24 hours.
“We will not quit, we will not yield, and we will not rest until the safety and security of our children and families is restored,” Evans said. “With nearly 270 homicides and more than 1,200 shooting victims so far this year in Philadelphia, we are failing at this task. And with so many residents of Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties concerned about crime, this is not just a Philadelphia problem.”
Evans released the poll results during a press conference on the steps of the Montgomery County courthouse in Norristown. Joining him were suburban representatives Mike Gerber (D-Montgomery) and Josh Shapiro (D-Montgomery), along with other Democrats from Southeastern Pennsylvania who will jointly push for anti-crime and violence prevention initiatives when the House of Representatives meets as a Committee of the Whole on Sept. 26th.
“For a long time, urban and suburban legislators failed to work together,” Gerber said. “I am glad that we are changing that divisive culture to tackle this critical regional problem.”
Coalition legislators are prepared to support a broad agenda that includes a one-gun-a-month statewide law, an assault weapons ban statewide, mandatory tracing of firearms, mandatory reporting of lost or stolen weapons and giving municipalities (including Philadelphia) the power to regulate firearms.
“We must end the terror that permeates our urban core and threatens our suburban communities,” Shapiro said. “We must break down the boundaries of geography and race to ensure a comprehensive approach to ending the senseless violence in our region. “